April 9 (Reuters) - U.S. shale firm Occidental Petroleum ( OXY )

said on Wednesday the prices it received for oil and gas

production during the first quarter were higher than in the

preceding three months.

Benchmark Brent crude prices averaged $74.98 a

barrel during the first quarter, up 1.3% from the prior quarter,

while U.S. natural gas prices jumped 30%, helped by

higher demand from a cold winter in the country.

Occidental said its average realized price for oil output

was $71.07 per barrel, compared to $69.73 per barrel it realized

during the last quarter of 2024.

Meanwhile, its average realized price for total natural gas

production rose to $2.30 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf) from

$1.26 per Mcf during the quarter ended December 31.